Originally Posted by
navy_crappie
OK, going back about 15 years to high school physics class here, but this is the best recollection I have: Lightening almost always strikes the tallest object around. This is why its dangerous to stand near a tree. The tree is much taller and stands a better chance of getting struck and the impact, and to some degree the actual electricity, can transfer to you if you are near enough. Now take this explanation to an open field. If you are standing there, whats the tallest thing around? You are! There's the explanation for golfers being favorite lightening rods (plus the fact that they are likely holding metal rods over their heads on the backswing!).
What all this gets to is that if you are out on the open water, you end up being the tallest target out there too! Basically, lightening is a string of charged electrons "connecting" with one another en route the ground. In theory they take the shortest route to get there (while still connecting all the electrons in the vicinity). If all 5' 9" of me is ticking up above the flat water, I wouldn't be feeling very safe!
I'm sure there is some astro-physicist around here that will either clarify what I say, or maybe just call me an idiot, but thats how I remember the lightening lesson from high school.